Within two years Bangor, Maine, could begin welcoming a handful of rotating, gifted wordsmiths, each committed to both honing their craft and honoring the legacy of one of the city’s most iconic residents.
The Bangor City Council unanimously approved Oct. 16 a request by authors Stephen and Tabitha King to rezone their 3.27-acre property as a nonprofit, slated to house both a writers' retreat and an archive, Rolling Stone reported.
In a Facebook post, Stephen King clarified the council meeting is a “first step” in a one- to two-year plan for establishing the writers’ retreat in the home adjacent to the one where he and Tabitha raised their family – and more than a few hairs on the backs of readers’ necks worldwide.
Read the full post below.
According to CNN, the Kings own two homes behind often-photographed wrought iron gates adorned with bats and gargoyles. While the Victorian mansion the family occupied will house Stephen King's personal archive – maintained by the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation – the second home will lodge as many as five writers in residence at a time once it becomes operational.
Following the vote, Bangor City Councilman Ben Sprague told Rolling Stone preserving the Kings' legacy is "important for the community."
“The King Family has been wonderful to the City of Bangor over time and have donated literally millions of dollars to various causes in the community,” Sprague said.
And Bangor has been equally important to Stephen King’s prolific writing career, serving as the inspiration for the fictional town of Derry, Maine, featured in such titles as “IT,” “Insomnia” and “11/22/63.”
"From John Steinbeck's house in California to Emily Dickinson's home in Massachusetts, homes of culturally impactful authors and artists can enrich communities. It is fitting that their Bangor home will be used not only as an archive, but as a writers' retreat," Bangor City Council Chairwoman Sarah Nichols told CNN.
"As such, Stephen & Tabitha King will continue to support and empower future generations of thinkers and seekers, just like they have over the years through the philanthropic efforts of their foundation," she told the network in a statement.
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